St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-02-17
.eNo " was the pruff resnonse.

mo" was the gruff response.
"Don't you think you ought TO ~
asked Miss Willis gravely.
OF course Bob knew perfectly well
that he ought to, but was he going to
tell her sol Not much, he thought, so
he said nothing.
Don't you think you ought 2" she
asked again.
Bob would not look up to meet the
grave, kind eyes bent upon him.
"Why don't she punish me as the
rest do, and have done with it ~ he
thought to himself.
"Robert, don't you think you have
been doing wrong all day in neglect
ing your lessons and disturbing the
school as you have I"
"No," he said just as gruffly as he
possibly could, since it was SO plainly
evident that he must answer one way
or the other. "No, don't"
Miss Willis made no reply, but went
to her desk, she took out her ferule,
and came back to where Bob sat.
"DOn't know but she thinks she can
lick me into it; but | never yet was
licked into anything, and l don't be-
lieve l will be now" thought Bob
scorufully.
''Either you or l, Robert, have done
wrong" she said quietly, as she stood
before him, ferule in hand. 81 sup
posed it was my duty to see that you
obeyed the rules of the school and i'm
proved your time. | thought [ ought
to do all in my power to assist you in
the preparation of a noble, intelligent,
useful manhood. But L believe you
are honest and sincere, and you say
you have been right in following your
idle, mischievOus inclinations as you
have; consequently | am the guilty
one, instead of you, and you must
punish me-"
Bob's face crimsOned with surprise
as she held the ferule out to him.
81 shan't touch it," he said drawing
back.
"But you must" replied Miss Willis,
firmly. "And the rule is twelve good
strokes"
She laid the ferule i'm Bob's hand,
and extended her own. Bob held it
and looked at the fair, delicate hand
awaiting the stroke. How could he
and yet there was but one other alter
native, and that was to "give in" Bob
felt somehow that this giving in would
mean a good deal-he raised the ferule.
"That will not count, Robert; you
must strike harder"
"Pd rather be punished Thousand
times over myself" he thought, but
still he could not give in.
Once more he struck-this time he
left red band on the white palm, and
in spite of herself Miss Willis fiinched
and changed color.
"That is right; eleven more just
such strokes" she said.
But instead of striking, Bob dropped
the ferule as though it were hot coal.
"I've been an idle, good for nothing
boy all my life," he said, trying to
keep back the sobs, "and Pm too mean
to live, to punish you for trying to
make me do as l ought. If you will
try me once more III do better-if-if
it kills me-"
ssAs sure as his name is Peters we
shall be proud of him." thought Miss
Willis exultingly.
"You can do nObly, Robert, if you
only will, for God has given you grand
capabilities but you must ask Him to
help you to keep them from running
to waste as you have let them all your
life. 1t will be hard struggle to
overcome the habits of years, but it
will pay, Robert"
"I told you So" said little Mr.. Pc
ters years after, when reports came to
the town of the elOquence and talents
of Judge Whitney. 81 told you so;
knew he had it in him, as sure as my
name is Peters"
Among Judge Whitney's most treas
ured possessions is an old-fashioned
ferule.
at was the making of me-" he says,
when questioned. - Examiner and
Chronicle.